Moving On

We had our last Bible study tonight with my son, Sean, there. Although it was a good time of prayer and teaching, it was also sad because I thought about the years that have passed and how much I'm going to miss him. He graduates from high school on the 15th and then will be moving to Georgia to live with his dad.

As hard as it is to let him go, I feel like it's time. He has such a sweet spirit and a good head on his shoulders, so I'm not all that worried about him. I know that God will be with him wherever he goes, and He can take care of him better than I ever could. He's had some great Christian friends in his life for the last three or four years who have mentored him and prayed for him through those tough early teen years and even now as he prepares to leave. I'm so blessed to have him in my life. In so many ways, he's a special person. And I love him.

I've been feeling all sorts of things lately because of this upcoming change in our lives. I know he is excited because he's missed his dad terribly over the years. And his dad has missed out on most of his growing up, so I know they are both looking forward to being together for a while. The selfish part of me wants to keep him here with me forever. As my daughter learned from an old episode of Dick VanDyke recently, that's what you call "selfish love."

I think Dick was teaching his son about a duck...but the same principle applies...

Bittersweet. Saying goodbye to his boyhood, but looking forward to his adulthood. He is covered in prayer, so I know he'll be fine.

I, on the other hand, am another story all together.

Summer Decorating

I've been aching to go to the beach lately. Being a redhead, it's something of a curse to love the beach as much as I do. Wish I had a nickle for every time someone said to me, "you'd have a good tan if all your freckles ran together." Oh, the mockery us redheads endure as children! There is actually some home video footage taken at the beach when I was around 8 years old wherein I was clothed in blue jeans and a long sleeve shirt. Complete with sunglasses and a ten gallon cowboy hat. My mother had obviously had enough sunburn drama to last her a while.

Anyway, in honor of summertime, I thought I'd share some of the summery decor around our house. It's not much, but it's mine. And it's paid for...

I copied this tray idea from a condo where my in-laws stayed when we went to the beach last year. I fell in love with it so much that I searched and searched for the exact tray until I finally found it at Target, of all places. The vase holding the candle came from Michael's. I filled it with genuine Panama City Beach sand, and shells, starfish, and sea glass from Pottery Barn. I actually like this display so much that I kept it out through the winter months, too.

A couple of years ago, my husband stopped at a yard sale to let me look (and I didn't even have to ask!) and I found this little roll-top desk. It was pretty sad and not really anything special. I'd been looking for something to to act as a vanity for this bare spot in the bathroom. I took her home (for $5!!) and gave her a makeover. Although it's relatively non-functional, it pretties up an otherwise useless space. I usually keep bath salts in that decanter, but looks like I'm out.

Not much is going on in the kitchen, summer-wise, except this bowl on our kitchen table that I filled with shells and driftwood.

Here's a side table in our living room. Trying to decide whether or not to paint it. For now, I'm liking the color of the wood. I've always thought that most everything looks better painted white, so who knows? Sorry about the glare.

I found the little fish plate at the local antique mall (or flea mall, as it's called) a few weeks ago, and they hydrangeas came from our yard.

My sister-in-law had this shadow box coffee table in a garage sale a few years ago and when it didn't sell, she let me have it. Being true to my instincts, I painted it white (Heirloom White) and lined it with burlap. I really had bigger plans for this table, but this is as far as I've gotten so far. It's filled with a few shells, driftwood, and a beach photo of my family. On top is one of my favorite summer decorations. I got these little jars from my mother-in-law, and the shells came from past trips to the beach. There are tea lights inside the jars, but they wouldn't stay lit for the picture. Sorry...that would have made for a better photo.

Finally, my little pewter seashell. I found it at the antique mall the day I found the fish plate. I was quite happy with my finds on that particular trip.

Wonder what my son will say when I tell him I need him to go to store for bath salts and tea lights?

I'm linking up with:
Thrifty Treasures@Southern Hospitality
DIY Project Parade@DIY Showoff
Sister Sunday@Sisters of the Wild West
Sunday Show-off@Twigg Studios
Spotlight Saturday@Classy Clutter

Blessings,